GUILTY: Taunton man convicted of murder in 2009 Route 24 slaying

Friday

May 30, 2014 at 1:27 PMMay 30, 2014 at 8:10 PM

FALL RIVER — Thomas Jeffreys of Taunton will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted Friday for his role in the 2009 drive-by shooting on Route 24 in Freetown that killed 29-year-old Troy Pina of Taunton.

“There will be no more fancy cars, multiple girlfriends or pockets full of cash for you,” Kris Frates, Pina’s first cousin, said to Jeffreys during her impact statement in Superior Court.

“You’ll never comprehend the magnitude of what your actions have rendered,” Frates said.

After a three-week trial, a jury convicted Jeffreys, 35, of first-degree murder, as well as three counts of armed assault to murder, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a firearm without a license.

The first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh called it a “fitting punishment.”

“Clearly, there are no mitigating circumstances,” Garsh said.

Prosecutors said Jeffreys acted in a joint venture with two other Taunton men — Marcus Mitchell, 25, and Jose Fernandes, 28 — in targeting Pina and Francisco Monteiro, 32, of Bourne, in the early morning hours of May 17, 2009.

Prosecutors said the trio — allegedly calling themselves the Supreme Team — drove in two separate cars on Route 24 southbound and shot at a vehicle driven by Monteiro. Pina, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat, was the only person struck by gunfire. Pina was pronounced dead after being driven to Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River.

The trio, prosecutors said, had obtained six handguns — a 9 mm, a .45-caliber and four .40-caliber weapons — from someone who bought the guns from stores in New Hampshire. Prosecutors said the suspects were on the lookout for Pina and Monteiro, and that just before the shooting on Route 24, the defendants had shot at, but missed, Monteiro and Pina’s vehicle on Whittenton Street in Taunton.

A witness testified during Fernandes’ murder trial in March 2013 that she saw two vehicles near the Pioneer Club, 332 Whittenton St., Taunton, and shots being fired.

First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley said Friday that it was “a miracle” that nobody else was injured or killed in the drive-by shooting, which was said to have stemmed from a feud between the two groups of men that began in May 2008.

The breaking point, prosecutors said, was when Monteiro beat up Jeffreys during a fight.

“This was a senseless tragedy,” McCauley said.

Frates alleged that Jeffreys and his two co-defendants — whom she called “low-lifes” — bragged about “their despicable deeds” and that they never showed any remorse for Pina’s murder during the two years leading up to their arrests in 2011.

“This was a well-investigated case,” McCauley said. “Witnesses stood up for what was right, and testified what they knew, in standing up against the culture of silence. They are to be commended for their courage.”

Last year, a superior court jury convicted Fernandes of first-degree murder. Fernandes is serving a life sentence in state prison without the possibility of parole. Mitchell is still awaiting trial.

Two days before his death, Pina, relatives said, had gone to Florida to support his young daughter, who was taking part in a national swimming competition.

“Troy was a loving father. He would always light up a room with his wonderful smile, personality and sense of humor,” said Miguel Martinez, Pina’s stepfather. Martinez said his stepson’s murder had a “profound emotional impact” on his family.

“I try to stay positive but a part of me is gone forever,” Martinez said. “Troy did not deserve to die at someone’s else’s hand. He had a heart of gold.”

Frates described her cousin as “a kind, social, affectionate man who embraced life.” Though adding that Jeffreys’ conviction will not bring her cousin back, Frates said she hoped Jeffreys will experience “a small percentage” of the suffering Pina endured in his final moments.

“May you rot in your cell and be haunted by the sight of Troy’s face and the sound of his laughter,” Frates said. “Good riddance.”

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